Hasta La Gadget!

HP’s plans to open-source webOS included mention of Enyo 2.0, a framework designed to spread webOS’ learnings to other platforms — to spread the love around, so to speak. The code foundation, while behind schedule, has just left beta: any developer with a mind to producing web apps can now create interface elements and whole apps using the technology derived from Palm’s legacy. Any reasonably modern browser will run the end result, whether it’s running Android, iOS or a full-fledged desktop release. We may never recreate the exact feeling of using an HP TouchPad on our iPads and Galaxy Tabs, but we know that some of its software design heritage will carry on.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs, Software

Enyo 2.0 released in finished form, shares webOS’ web app legacy with everyone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Phone Scoop  |  Enyo  | Email this | Comments

Microsoft has revealed that 28 million PCs were impacted by its legally-mandated browser choice blunder, blaming engineer error for not presenting Windows 7 users with a choice of web options. The European Commission has reopened its investigation into antitrust behaviors around browser bundling in Windows, after reports that many users weren’t getting prompted to pick from a range of apps as Microsoft had promised; in a statement, Microsoft says the bungle was accidental rather than a malicious and deliberate attempt to squash the competition.

“As agreed with the Commission in 2009, Microsoft uses our Windows Update service to send the BCS software to Windows-based PCs. Once installed, the BCS software checks to see if Internet Explorer is the default browser and, if it is, the BCS is displayed to the user. The Windows Update system uses “detection logic” to determine which software updates (such as the BCS) to distribute to which PCs. The detection logic for the BCS software was accurate when we began to distribute it in early 2010, and the BCS software was delivered as it should have been. Unfortunately, the engineering team responsible for maintenance of this code did not realize that it needed to update the detection logic for the BCS software when Windows 7 SP1 was released last year. As a result of this error, new PCs with Windows 7 SP1 did not receive the BCS software as they should have” Microsoft

Microsoft and the EC settled on the Browser Choice Screen as a way of avoiding further antitrust investigations back in 2009, presenting Windows users with the opportunity to download Internet Explorer or, if they preferred, Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Safari. The screen is supposed to be displayed to all new users, but a mix-up among the company’s engineers meant Windows 7 SP1 users didn’t see it.

Complaints that the BCS was missing had already reached the European Commission, which alerted Microsoft to its concerns. Upon investigation, Microsoft confirmed that the BCS hadn’t been distributed as intended; it apparently began distribution of the fixed version on July 3, and expects to have completed that process by the end of this week.

Microsoft has called in an external investigation team to figure out how the problem happened, and that will report directly to the EC. Meanwhile, the company itself will extend the BCS program by a further 15 months, though the Commission could choose to apply other sanctions if it sees fit.

Microsoft: 28m PCs affected by browser choice blunder is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’d say it’s about time. Although it’s almost two years late to the party, Barnes & Noble is responding to Amazon’s Kindle for the Web with Nook for Web. Much like its counterpart across the virtual aisle, the Nook web edition lets readers browse free samples and whole books entirely from a web browser while preserving the bookmarking and layout options we’ve come to know and love. Social mavens will like the options to share over Facebook and Twitter without having to leave the page, and recommendations will pop up as you shop. There’s no highlights, however, so it won’t quite replace the Nook app on your iPad just yet. Nook for Web is already ready and waiting as part of Barnes & Noble’s online store, so those who can’t be bothered with native apps can get their fix immediately.

Update: It most definitely won’t replace that Nook app for the iPad. As TechCrunch found out, the web version won’t load on iOS devices.

Continue reading Barnes & Noble brings out Nook for Web, comes full circle with e-reading (update: not on iOS)

Barnes & Noble brings out Nook for Web, comes full circle with e-reading (update: not on iOS) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Nook for Web  | Email this | Comments

You’d be forgiven for thinking this whole browser choice issue was resolved back in 2009, but no. European regulators are back on Redmond’s back, following suspicions that the megacorp may not be complying with the deal it struck all that time ago. Specifically, the allegations focus on versions of Windows 7 sold since February 2011 that came preloaded with patches, and which may not have displayed the all-important browser selection screen that offered up IE alternatives like Firefox and Chrome.

The EU’s concerns have already been bluntly expressed by Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, who said that Microsoft “should expect sanctions” if the “infringement is confirmed” by the investigation. Almunia added that this is the first time his commission has been faced with a previous offender potentially failing to meet its antitrust commitments.

Update: Reuters reports that Microsoft has acknowledged a “technical error” that meant it “missed delivering the BCS (browser choice screen) software to PCs that came with the service pack 1 update to Windows 7.” The company apologized for the problem and said it has taken “immediate steps” to fix it.

Filed under: Software

Microsoft under investigation for not fulfilling browser choice pledge (update: MS says it’s fixing ‘glitch’) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jul 2012 07:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  ZDNet, Reuters  | Email this | Comments

Google has been talking up the prospects of integrating WebRTC into Chrome for the past several months. It’s now ready to put theory into practice with a fresh beta of the web browser. The upgrade uses WebRTC to let typical microphones and webcams talk to the browser without using a plugin like Flash or something otherwise so very 2011. Just to embrace this future of direct hardware support ever the more tightly, Google is also building in a gamepad programming interface that lets controllers tap into Chrome without having to rely on Native Client‘s magic. There’s more waiting at the source link, including more direct tie-ins with Cloud Print, so the more adventurous among us can get to chatting (and playing) right away.

Filed under: Peripherals, Internet, Software

New Google Chrome beta lets webcams go plugin-free, video chat gets a lot less Flashy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Google Chromium Blog  |  Google  | Email this | Comments